Merrillville vs Valparaiso
Merrillville, Indiana versus Valparaiso, Indiana: a factual, side-by-side comparison of cost of living, housing, safety, schools, and climate. Greener figures rank better among US places.
Valparaiso edges out Merrillville on overall objective livability (54 vs 50 of 100), though each leads on different factors below.
Factor-by-factor comparison
| Factor | Merrillville | Valparaiso |
|---|---|---|
| Affordability | ||
| Median Household Income | $62k | $60k |
| Cost of Living | $44k | $46k |
| Home Value | $177k | $230k |
| Monthly Rent | $1k | $1k |
| Monthly Owner Costs | $1k | $2k |
| Property Tax Rate | 0.97% | 1.05% |
| Income Tax | 4.70% | 5.20% |
| Sales Tax | 7.00% | 7.00% |
| Estimated total tax burden | 9.76% | 11.53% |
| Unemployment | 8.2% | 3.0% |
| Weather | ||
| Winter Temp (Jan) | 26°F | 26°F |
| Summer Temp (Jul) | 75°F | 75°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.9 in | 42.3 in |
| Annual Snowfall | 26.6 in | 40.0 in |
| Sunny Days | 208 days | 208 days |
| Summer Humidity | 62°F | 62°F |
| Comfortable Days | 89 days | 92 days |
| Safety & Wellbeing | ||
| Natural Disaster Risk | 50.1 | 34.4 |
| Air Quality | 54 AQI | 39 AQI |
| School Quality | 52.4 | 48.6 |
| Violent Crime | 137/100k | 553/100k |
| Property Crime | 302/100k | 833/100k |
| Community | ||
| Population | 36,214 | 33,991 |
| Median Age | 39.1 | 36.8 |
| Racial Diversity | 0.63 | 0.28 |
| Male/Female Ratio | 0.91 | 0.89 |
| Political Leaning | D+15 | Even |
| White (%) | 32.6% | 79.9% |
| Black (%) | 45.5% | 4.7% |
| Hispanic (%) | 17.3% | 8.8% |
| Asian (%) | 0.9% | 3.4% |
| Other / Multiracial (%) | 3.6% | 3.3% |
| Getting Around | ||
| Commute Time | 32 min | 23 min |
| Walkability | 7.9/20 | 7.5/20 |
| Airport Distance | 31 mi | 42 mi |
| Lifestyle & Connectivity | ||
| Broadband Access | 84.9% | 88.3% |
| Amenities Nearby | 25.40 | 32.95 |
| Park & Nature Access | Good | Good |
Each figure is colored by how it ranks among all US places: green is strong, amber average, red weaker. Neutral factors (population, demographics, target-style climate) show their percentile without a better/worse claim.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Merrillville or Valparaiso more affordable?
- Merrillville has the lower cost of living: its index is $44k, compared with Merrillville's $44k and Valparaiso's $46k. Median rent is $1k in Merrillville versus $1k in Valparaiso.
- Is Merrillville or Valparaiso safer?
- Merrillville has the lower violent crime rate. Merrillville reports 137/100k and Valparaiso reports 553/100k (violent crimes per 100,000 residents).
- Are homes cheaper in Merrillville or Valparaiso?
- The median home value is $177k in Merrillville and $230k in Valparaiso, so homes are more affordable in Merrillville.